Chapter 5: Lagos Mama

"Nelo, wetin happen today? You dey happy like say you win lottery."

Chinelo’s mama give me helmet. She no rub powder for face, she wear one old slippers and black wrapper. She slim small and her face pale, but her eyes dey soft and gentle as she look me.

Her voice dey warm, like woman wey dey pet her pikin. You no go believe say she fit shout, even if you pour garri for ground.

"Yes, na just one problem wey I no fit solve before, I don solve am today."

I answer as I dey try wear the helmet. Because I no sabi am, the strap just hook for my neck. Chinelo’s mama stop the keke, come help me wear am well.

Her hand soft, she arrange the strap, then smile. E sweet me small, because my own mama no dey do that kind thing since I small.

She no even shout, she just pinch my nose playfully. "See as you be like small pikin. Sit well."

She spit small for hand, use am wipe dust for my face—like all Lagos mama. The driver look us for mirror, smile, then zoom enter traffic. Everybody dey hustle, but inside the keke, small peace dey.

I sit down well for the keke napep, but my nose wey she touch just dey pain me small.

I rub am, laugh for mind. I no fit remember the last time my mama play with me like this.

Since I reach ten years, I dey live alone.

My mama always busy, dey travel everywhere. She never carry me come back from school once, and she no dey let me waste time dey do like small pikin.

Her voice na always command—no time for play, only result matter. If I fall sick, na nurse go stay with me. No mama hug, nothing.

Since years, we never even touch each other. Our talk be like boss and worker—she go give order, I go do. If I do well, she go send money; if I mess up, na punishment straight.

Punishment fit be silent treatment, no allowance for two weeks, or plenty homework till midnight. Sometimes I go just dey cry inside pillow, but I no fit talk am.

As I remember those punishment, my body just dey shake. The fear wey dey my bone just dey spread everywhere.

Na trauma I dey carry for chest, but nobody sabi.

I try calm myself: No fear. You be Chinelo now, no be Ifedolapo. Nothing go do you.

I breathe deep, dey tell myself say this na new beginning.